CHAPTER 12

A/N: Hey guys! I am back with the new, long and of course a dhamakedaar update. Hope you like it, guys. Thanks for reviewing the previous one. And once again sorry for that short update.

Here you go, then. I won't take much of your time through my bak - bak. Enjoy reading.

Recap: Tanishka takes the entire matter into her hands and swears to save the lives of her loved ones at any cost.

The next five days were extremely busy. On the very first day when the case started, Aryan Raj had made everyone swear that they won't put their hands into any other case until and unless they had solved the given one. If any case came their way when on it, it would be immediately diverted towards the Special Bureau. Everyone had agreed to it along with ACP sir. Everyone was relentlessly working on the given case. Tanishka, at the same time, was trying to find out more about this Aryan Raj as for her, he didn't seem the real one. Abhijeet and Daya were a bit relaxed and completely focussed on the given case, as there had been no threatening call since Tanishka had been brought home. Even ACP sir and Rajat had to put their findings on hold and order their informers to collect info about the ongoing case. After five days hard work, the team had collected enough evidence and got to know about one of the hideouts of that gang. Aryan Raj gave the responsibility of conducting the raid to Abhijeet. Tanishka, ACP sir and Aryan Raj were to keep in touch with them through the bureau. Tanishka was not favour of such a decision of quick raid, but as everyone was senior to her there, she couldn't do anything. Abhijeet planned out the things completely well and informed the trio about it. The raid was planned for the night. And as the time came, Abhijeet left for the raid with his team.

Tanishka was constantly walking to and fro in the bureau. She was quite restless. ACP sir and Aryan Raj were simply looking at her, moving. Even Salunkhe sir and Tarika were present there. After some time –

ACP sir: "Tanishka… bacche, baith jao. Kabse yaha – waha ghum rahi ho. Baith jao, sab thik ho jayega. Tumhe Abhijeet par bharosa nahi hai kya?"

Tanishka: Sir, (Tanishka had requested ACP sir and the team to allow her to call them sirs and madams as she didn't want to flaunt her relations in front of Aryan Raj) Abhijeet sir par toh mujhe pura bharosa hai, par mujhe lagta hai ki humlogon ne jaldbaazi ki hai. Raid ka plan thoda ruk kar banaya hota toh jyada behter hota."

Aryan: (bored with her constant cribbing) "Tanishka, tumhe kyu lagta hai ki yeh time galat hai? Thodi der ruk jaane se aisa kaunsa pahad haath aane wala tha? Come on, now. Hum kafi time se is field me hai. Tum abhi abhi aayi ho. So hume sikhane ki jarurat nahi hai. Hume pata hai ki humlog kya kar rahe hai."

Tanishka shook her head and went back to her walking. ACP sir and Aryan sighed looking at her. After some time, ACP sir got a call from Abhijeet. But what he heard made his face turn pale. He kept the phone looking grim. Tanishka pounced on him with questions.

Tanishka: "Kya hua, haan? Kya kaha Abhijeet sir ne? Raid successful rahi?"

ACP sir: (in heavy and low tone) "Nahi, raid fail ho gayi hai. Unlogon ko humare aane ki bhanak lag gayi thi aur humara bohot dat ke saamna kiya. Abhijeet aa raha hai team ke saath. Puri baat uske aane par hi pata chalegi."

Tarika and Salunkhe sir too turned sad hearing it. Both knew that Abhijeet had taken too much pain and efforts in planning and executing the plan. Tarika was constantly praying that the failure should not affect him. But Tanishka was busy in her own thoughts. She glanced at Aryan and found him smiling at something and messaging someone, through a phone which she hadn't seen with him before. She got that something was fishy here. She had to find it out as soon as possible. But right now, she had to find out from Abhijeet that why the raid had failed. After some time, Abhijeet entered with the team. His face was completely composed but his eyes were showing anger and pain of that failure. Tanishka also noticed the side of his coat turning red but she kept mum as she knew that bringing up that topic now would only earn her an angry outburst from his side. She made a note to deal with it on reaching home.

ACP sir: "Abhijeet, kya hua tha waha pe? Unlogon ko pata kaise chala humare aane ka?"

Daya: (seeing Abhijeet not in a mood to answer) "Pata nahi, sir. Par aisa laga jaise unlogon ko humara plan ki ek – ek detail ke bare me pata tha. Hum kaha se enter karenge, kitne log honge, kaha se attack karenge, sab kuch pata unhe. Aur unki majaal to dekho. Humara plan pata hone ke bawajood woh log bhage nahi, balki humara saamna karne taiyyar baithe the. (angrily) Bohot jyada himmat badh gayi hai inlogon ki. Inhe jad se ukhade bina chain se nahi baithenge, Sir."

Aryan: "Woh toh hai, Daya. Inlogon ko dikha dena hai hume ki inlogon ne kise challenge kiya hai. Abhijeet, tension mat lo. Hota hai kabhi – kabhi. Har baar insaan jeet toh nahi sakta. (in a meaningfull tone) Kabhi na kabhi toh use haar ka saamna karna hi padta hai, taake uske pair zameen par rahe."

Abhijeet looked up at him. All others didn't like his tone but kept quiet because he was their senior. ACP sir ordered everyone to pack up for the night. Abiding it, everyone left. No one knew that the upcoming days were going to be much more harder than they were expecting them to be.

By 8 in the morning, everyone entered. All had thought to start everything afresh. But there was one thing different today. Abhijeet was very much calm and relaxed today. He seemed to be filled with a new energy and hope.

Freddy: "Sachin sir, dekhiye toh Abhijeet sir ko. Kitne shaant lag rahe hai. Warna kal ke baad toh laga tha ki do – chaar din tak toh sir gussa kar kar ke bureau sir par utha lenge."

Sachin: "Haa Freddy, baat toh tumhari sahi hai. Mujhe bhi yahi laga tha. Par yaha toh ganga ulti hi beh rahi hai."

Pankaj: "Sir, Daya sir se puchhe. Unhe jarur pata hoga ki yeh chamatkaar kaise hua."

Purvi: "Haa sir, unhi se puchhte hai. Par ACP sir aur Aryan sir ke aane se pehle. Woh log aa gaye toh kahi daantne na lag jaye ki humlog timepass kar rahe hai."

All others nodded and immediately gathered around Daya's desk. Daya, who had seen them whispering looking towards Abhijeet, easily got their reason behind confusion. He smiled to himself.

Sachin: (taking the lead) "Sir, woh… woh hum aapse… aapse puchhna chah rahe the…. ki… ki… woh…"

Daya: "Mai samajh gaya hu, Sachin, tumlogon ke man me kya chal raha hai. Abhijeet ke bare me puchhna chahte ho na tumlog? (all nodded) Puri baat toh mujhe bhi nahi pata par lagta hai… (in low voice) baap – beti me dheere – dheere sulaah ho rahi hai. Kal Abhijeet aur Tanishka kafi der tak baatein kar rahe the, shayad. Woh bhi bina jhagade. Bhagwaan kare dono jaldi hi ek ho jaye."

Freddy: (wiping his moist eyes) "Sir, mai aaj shaam ko ghar jaane se pehle mandir jaakar bhagwaan ko prasad chadhaunga. Woh jald hi aapki aur hum sab ki yeh dua bhi kabul kar lenge, dekh lijiyega."

Everyone was happy listening to this new improvement in Abhijeet and Tanishka's relation. Even Rajat who was just passing from there, had heard of it and thought of giving this great news to ACP sir. Everyone's face in the bureau was glowing like a 1000 watt bulb. When ACP sir entered, everyone wished him. But he caught a new enthusiasm in that wish. He was puzzled but had more important things at hand, so called Rajat to discuss something in his cabin. In the cabin, ACP sir asked him to find out about the network of that gang through his informers as after Abhijeet, only Rajat's informer network was good and wide spread. After instructing him everything –

ACP: "Yeh team aaj itni khush kyu lag rahi hai? Abhijeet bhi kafi shaant hai."

Rajat: (smiling) "Sir sab thik jo hone laga hai ab."

ACP: "Matlab?"

Rajat: "Kal pehli baar Tanishka aur Abhijeet sir ne ek saath baithkar baatein ki hai. (ACP sir was shocked hearing that) Haa sir, Daya sir bata rahe the ki dono kafi der tak baat kar rahe the, bina jhagde. Sir ab lagta hai ki sab kuch sahi raaste aane laga hai."

ACP: (with moist eyes looking towards Abhijeet) "Tumhare muh me ghee – shakkar, Rajat."

Rajat smiled and left the cabin to allow ACP sir his moment of happiness. He knew what that father was feeling right now. He didn't want to disturb him at that point. At around 12, Aryan Raj entered. Everyone greeted him. Even ACP sir came out of his cabin.

Aryan: "Achha hua, Pradyuman tum aa gaye. Everyone please gather around. (all gathered around the centre table) Good. Ab dhyaan se suno. Maine apne informers se kuch baate pata karwayi hai. Woh yeh hai ki – "

He stopped as the bureau's phone rang. ACP sir signalled Nikhil to pick up the call. Nikhil received it.

Nikhil: "Hello, Sub – Inspector Nikhil here."

Voice: "Aye shaane, chup chap phone speaker daal."

Nikhil: (angrily) "Aye, jabaan sambhaal ke baat kar, samjha?"

Voice: (angrily) "Tu apni jabaan sambhaal. Warna tera woh Senior hai na, kya naam hai uska? Haan, Abhijeet uski yeh jo khubsurat si beti hai na, Tanishka apni jaan se haath dho baithegi. Ab jo mai bolta hu woh kar."

Nikhil turned on the speaker and kept the receiver with trembling hands. Everyone got confused at his suddenly changed body language.

Voice: "Namaste Abhijeet sahab, pehchaana?"

Abhijeet and Daya were totally shocked hearing that voice. Why had he called after so many days? They had been secretly keeping track of this case too, as after all it was their daughter's life at stake. But they had had no progress in it.

Voice: "Kya sahab? Bolti band ho gayi? Koi nahi. Kaan toh khule hi honge. Awaaz sunke jara bataiye toh kaun hai yeh insaan. Are bandhu, sahab ko awaaz suna jara."

They heard a terrible scream from behind.

Abhijeet: (in completely tensed tone) "TANUUU… Kya kiya tumlogon ne meri bacchi ke saath? (in deadly tone) Agar use kuch bhi hua na, toh tumlogon ki zindagi nark se bhi badtar bana dunga mai."

Voice: "Hahahaha…. Kyu sahab, hawa nikal gayi? Ab taane nahi sujh rahe aapko? Kya sahab? Kaha toh tha ki koi hoshiyaari nahi karna. Phir bhi call details nikaalne ki koshish, phone trace karne ki koshish, gaadi ka no. dhundne ki koshish. Ab aapki galati ki sazaa bechari beti bhugat rahi hai."

Daya: "Abe machhar, tujhe pata bhi hai ki tu kar kya raha hai? Bas ek baar mere saamne aaja. Aise gala pakadunga tera, ki teri awaaz aur teri hekdi dono bahar aajayegi,"

Voice: "Daya, milna – julna toh hota hi rahega. Humare aur aapke paas toh waqt hi waqt hai. Haa, magar….. Abhijeet sahab…. aapki beti ke paas sirf 24 ghante hai. Zinda dekhna hai toh Raka ke case ki file kal 12 baje se pehle Siddhi Vinayak mandir ke bahar ek ped ke niche rakh dijiye. Warna kal subah isi samay par apni beti ka anjaam dekh lijiyega."

Abhijeet: "Hello… Hello… Mujhe meri beti se baat karni hai, hello…."

But the phone had been already cut. Soon after Tarika and Dr. Salunkhe entered.

Tarika: (holding Abhijeet by his shoulders) "Abhi, Abhi… Kya hua, haan? Shreya… Shreya ne bataya ke Tanu ko kisine… kisine kidnap kar liya hai. Kya yeh… Kya yeh sach hai, haan? (shouting in teary tone) Bolo na, Abhi, chup kyu ho tum? Bolo na?"

ACP: "Tarika, beta shaant ho jao. Hum dekh rahe hai ki kya hua hai, haan. Shreya sambhalo use aur le jao yaha se. (Shreya takes the devastated Tarika out of the bureau.) Vineet, Purvi, jao aur jake restroom check karo aur CCTV footage bhi. Jao, jaldi. Daya, woh aadmi aisa kyu keh raha tha ki tumlogon ne phone trace kiye, gaadi ka no. check karwaya, haan? Kya chal raha hai, batao mujhe. Abhi isi waqt."

Daya: (in lost tone) "Sir woh… ek hafte pehle…. raat ko Abhijeet ko ek dhamki bhara call aaya tha. Isi aadmi ne call kiya tha. Keh raha tha ki agar humne uski baat nahi mani toh woh… woh Tanishka ko maar dega. Uske baad uska koi call nahi aaya tha, par uske aadmi Tanu par nazar rakhe huye the. Par humne… humne bohot savdhaani se sab kuch pata karne ki koshish ki thi. Pata nahi use kaise pata chal gaya."

ACP: (in anger) "Damn it! Tum dono ka dimaag kharaab ho gaya hai? Itni badi baat chipayi tumlogon ne humse? Tarika aur Shreya ko nahi bataya, samjh sakta hu. Maa hai dono, pareshan ho jati. Par mujhe toh bata sakte the na tumlog. Par nahi, sab kuch khud hi dekhna hai, khud hi nipatna hai."

Freddy: (looking at the helpless Abhijeet, in teary tone) "Sir, par ab kya kare? Humare paas sirf 24 ghante hai. Agar unki baat nahi mani, toh woh log Tanu ko… Tanu ko…."

He couldn't complete the sentence and started sobbing. Sachin and Pankaj tried to console him with teary eyes.

ACP: "Kuch na kuch toh karenge hi hum Freddy, kuch na kuch to – "

Aryan: "Hum kuch nahi karenge, Pradyuman."

A deadly silence fell in the bureau. Abhijeet was starring at Aryan with blank eyes. Everyone else was giving him an angry look.

ACP: "Aryan, tum yeh kya – "

Aryan: "Pradyuman… tumhe yaad na ho, toh yaad dila du ki jab yeh case shuru hua tha tab tum sab ne mujhse aur is desh se ek wada kiya tha ki chahe jo ho jaye, yeh case khatam hone tak tumlog koi dusra case haath me nahi loge. Kiya tha ya nahi? Aur maine suna hai ki Senior Inspector Abhijeet toh apne wada ka bohot pakka hai. Woh khud tut jayega par apna wada kabhi nahi tutne dega. Toh kya aaj wohi Abhijeet apni beti ke khatir apne desh se kiye gaye wade ko tod dega?"

Abhijeet: (in broken tone) "Sir…. wada toh maine apni beti se, apni jaan se pyaari bacchi se bhi kiya tha sir ki uspar ek aanch bhi nahi aane dunga magar….. magar har baar maine woh wada toda hai, sir har baar. (controlling his tears) Sir, agar aaj woh wada maine tod diya na, toh mai uski nazaron me gir jaunga. Insaan chahe unche se unche pahadon se gir jaye, koshish karke khada ho hi jaata hai, magar apno ki nazaron se gir jaye, toh woh… woh kabhi khada nahi ho pata, kabhi nahi."

Aryan: (in grim voice) "Choice tumhari hai, Abhijeet. Tumhe apni beti ki nazaron me girna hai ya duniya ki. Soch lo. Maine waise bhi Special Bureau ko inform kar diya hai. Ab tum dekho ki case tumhe dekhna hai aur is case ko chhodkar duniya ko dao pe lagana hai yah case Special Bureau ko dekar is ongoing case ko solve karke duniya ko bachana hai. Mai conference room me sabka intezaar karunga."

He left towards the conference room. Abhijeet collapsed on the floor, with his head in his hand. Daya put a hand around his buddy's shoulder.

Abhijeet: (in teary voice) "Daya, meri bacchi…."

Rajat was looking at both of them, helplessly. Soon Vineet and Purvi returned to the bureau.

Vineet: "Sir, CCTV footage se ek chaukane wali baat pata chali hai, sir."

Rajat: "Kya pata chala hai, Vineet? Jaldi batao."

Vineet: "Sir, restroom me koi gaya toh nahi tha, par….."

Daya: (with fear) "Par kya, Vineet?"

Vineet: "Sir woh 10 baje Tanishka khud restroom se ek shopping bag ke saath bahar aayi thi. Uske baad woh room me wapas hi nahi aayi hai. Aur building ke kisi camera me bhi woh capture nahi huyi hai. Yaha tak ki front gate ke camera se bhi use bahar jaate huye use nahi dekha gaya hai. Aur koi andar aate huye bhi nahi dikha hai. Aisa bhi nahi hai ki camera kuch samay ke liye band hua ho."

Abhijeet: (in hopeful tone) "Toh kahi aisa toh nahi ki woh bureau me hi kahi ho? Unlogon ne hume tap ki huyi awaaz sunayi ho?"

Purvi: (controlling her tears) "Nahi sir, aisa kuch nahi hai. Humne bureau ka ek -ek kona chhaan mara hai. Tanu… Tanu kahi bhi nahi hai. Aur uska phone bhi restroom me hi hai."

The chances of finding Tanu were reducing. Also the words of Aryan were ringing in their ears.

ACP: (composing himself as much as possible) "Abhijeet, beta ho sake toh mujhe maaf kar dena. Par ab hume yeh case Special Bureau ke haath hi dena hoga. Mai jaanta hu beta ki tumpar kya beet rahi hai. Mai bhi ek baap hu. Magar is waqt ek ACP us baap par haavi ho raha hai. Maaf kar dena bacche mujhe, maaf kar dena."

Abhijeet: (wiping his eyes) "Sir aap kyu maafi maang rahe hai? Mai samajhta hu sir. Waise bhi mujhse jyada Tanu ki fikar aapko hai. Aakhir sabse jyada waqt aapne hi bitaya hai uske saath. (composing himself) Thik hai, sir. Kar dijiye yeh case Special Bureau ke hawale."

Everyone could see those two broken fathers. They couldn't help themselves marvelling at them. How easily they had taken that decision. No, behind that easy decision was immense pain and fear. Pain of not being able to do anything for their child. Fear of losing her to death. But those fathers had gulped that pain and fear down their throat. And let me tell you guys, it tastes worst than poison itself. Everyone went to the conference room with a heavy heart and depressed mind. Salunkhe went and told this decision to Tarika and Shreya. Tarika was very angry at Abhijeet for leaving her daughter once again at the mercy of fate. But deep down even she knew that her husband would never, ever ditch his duty. If he could sacrifice his own memory for it, then he can sacrifice anything. The time was slowly passing. The day passed and the night came. But it didn't mean anything to the CID Mumbai team. As their lives were already in darkness.

The night passed and the next day arrived. The clock was ticking loudly and so was each and every person's heart. The Special Bureau team was not at all ready to tell them the progress. Soon the clock struck 12. Everyone's hearts leapt to their mouths when they heard the door opening sound. It was Dr. Salunkhe and Tarika holding a gift in their hands. Their faces were showing immense tension. ACP sir came out of his cabin followed by Aryan. Daya brought Abhijeet near them. Dr. Salunkhe forwarded the gift towards Abhijeet. There was a tape recorder attached to it.

Dr. Salunkhe: "Is par… is par tumhara naam likha hai. Bomb nahi hai isme, humne check kiya hai."

Abhijeet turned on the tape recorder.

"Senior Inspector Abhijeet, humne tumse kaha tha ki koi chalaki nahi karna. Chup – chap humari baat maankar agar woh file humare hawale kar dete toh aaj yeh din nahi dekhna padta tumhe. Par tum CID walo ka yahi toh problem hai. Samajhdari ki baate samajhme kaha aati hai. Ab dekh lo. Kaise tumhari galti ki sazaa tumhari beti ne bhugti hai."

Everyone was freezed at their places. The gift fell down from Abhijeet's hands. He was looking at it with blank eyes. Rajat picked it up and opened it. It was a box. He kept it on the centre table and half opened the lid. But he saw made him back off immediately. He was starring at it with moist and wide eyes.

Purvi: (holding Rajat by his hands) "Kya hua, Rajat sir? Kya hai usme? Boliye na."

Daya: "Haa, Rajat bolo na kya hai usme?"

Rajat: (averting his eyes) "Aap log khud hi dekh lijiye."

Aryan completely opened the box. It contained…. BLOOD – STAINED CLOTHES OF A GIRL. Tarika rushed and checked the clothes and shouted in teary tone.

Tarika: "Nahi… Nahi yeh nahi ho sakta. Nahi ho sakta yeh. YEH MERI TANU KE KAPDE HAI. Meri bacchi… meri Tanu…"

She collapsed on the floor and started yelling and crying with voice. Shreya and Dr. Salunkhe was trying to control her but in vain. Abhijeet was just starring blanking. Even ACP was trying hard to control his tears. Everyone was crying thinking of that innocent soul. After some time –

Abhijeet: "KUCH NAHI HUA HAI, MERI TANU KO."

Everyone looked at him. What was he saying?

Daya: "Abhijeet, yeh kya keh rahe ho tum? Uske kapde mile hai hume. Khoon se sane huye. Mai jaanta hu – "

Abhijeet: "Khoon se sane huye kapde mile hai, laash toh nahi. (Everyone's heart pinched at that) Meri beti zinda hai. Jab tak meri saans chal rahi hai, woh zinda hai. Hum do sharir, ek jaan hai, Daya. Jis din uski jaan gayi, us din meri bhi saanse tham jayengi. Magar meri saanse abhi bhi chal rahi hai. Matlab woh zinda hai. Mai mehsoos kar sakta hu. Kuch nahi hua hai use, kuch bhi nahi."

Saying this, he left the bureau and the building.

Here's the update, guys. I have kept my promise of a long and dhamakedaar update. So please now do let me know through your reviews how it was. At least five are needed, otherwise I won't update the next.

So please read and REVIEW.

Thankyou!